Cousins All
by: Will B
(© 2007 by the Author)
Advisor: E Walk

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

From Chapter 20: Troy and Richard discovered that Bob and Bill were “a couple.” Troy received a letter from his brother Van.

Chapter 21

The Talk: July 22 at the Vidmark-Hunter House.

Breakfast was over and Richard was stacking the dishes in the dishwasher. Troy said to his nephews, “Guys, we need to talk about some various things.”

Bob and Bill looked at their uncle with questioning looks on their faces. “What’s that, Uncle Troy?” Bob asked.

Troy said, “Let’s all go into the family room.”  Troy and his nephews were joined by Richard. Troy and Richard sat down on the couch, and Bob and Bill sat on the floor facing the adults.

Troy began, “ First of all, you two need to know that what I want to talk about has your Mom and Dad’s full approval, and your Dad said he would be discussing this with you when he gets back. He felt that because of the topic, you would be more likely to listen to what Richard and I have to say.”

Troy reached over and took Richard’s hand. Bob and Bill looked mightily surprised. Troy went on, “Boys, Your Uncle Richard and I are . . . we . . . . we love each other, and we are a couple.”

Bill said without thinking, “Oh shit! No way! Oh, I’m sorry, Uncle Troy.”

“Yes, way too,” said Richard. “We are what some people would call ‘queer’ or ‘fags’ but the term of choice is ‘gay,’ or better yet, a ‘committed couple who love each other deeply.’”

“But you were married, Uncle Richard. You had two . . .” Bob stopped, afraid of hurting his ‘honorary’ uncle.

“Yes, Bob, I was married, and while she was alive I loved my dear wife deeply. We had two wonderful sons, and after my wife Linda died, I was very lonely until I met Troy. How we met is another story. It’s about my sons that I want to talk.” Here Richard paused.

“Let me, Dick,” Troy said. “First of all, Bob and Bill, we know that boys often experiment with sexual activities—sometimes with girls, sometimes with other boys. It happens.”

Bob and Bill looked just a little uncomfortable. ‘What is he saying?’ Bob thought. “Did he see the mess on our sheets?’ Bill wondered.

“This experimentation, playing with each other, is a part of life, part of growing up, a part of finding out the kind of person one is,” Troy went on.

“Now suppose, just suppose, that you two were to play with each other’s equipment . . .”

‘Here it comes,’ thought Bob. ‘He’s gonna ream us out!’

“Just realize this. That what you two may get up to in your own room with each other, is absolutely your own business. Richard and I don’t care. We don’t think you’re freaks. We don’t think you’re going to hell. You are boys doing what many boys have done over the last 10,000 years or more, Its no big deal, as long as you both are willing, and neither of you gets hurt.”

Bob and Bill sat their with their jaws open. They couldn’t believe their own ears. Uncle Troy and Uncle Richard were not gonna be mad. ‘Oh, wow!’ ‘Doggone!’ ‘Holy Batman!’ were some of the thoughts going through their heads.

‘But,” Richard said, “There are some things you have to know. First of all there is this matter of AIDS. As long as you two are doing things only with each other, there is no danger. But as soon as you have sex with an outsider you are running a risk a terrible risk of contracting a disease for which there is no known cure. If you are going to have sex with anyone else, you must take some precautions, and even these . . . (Richard held out a packet of condoms) . . . are not always completely safe.”

Troy continued, “Guys, I cannot order you to do or not do, anything, but I beg you always to act responsibly. You are almost old enough to drive a car. In a few years you will be old enough to vote. Please start now to be responsible in your sexual activities.  I wish . . . and this is just a wish . . . that you would agree not to have sex with outsiders until you are at least 18. Do you think you could try?”

Bob stood up and went to his uncle. “Uncle Troy I know, and I think Bill knows too, that everything you have said has been for our own good. I . . ., we . . . know that you love us, and we love you too. I certainly will try.”

“Me too,” said Bill.

“There is one other thing I have to tell you boys,” Richard added. You both know my two sons died in a car crash. What you don’t know is that somehow they . . . they got mixed up with a guy who got his kicks from inflicting pain on others. Their bodies showed signs . . . “ Richard could not continue, he sat there with his facial muscles working, trying to keep control of himself.

Troy put his arms around Richard and drew him into a warm hug, and held him. Then looking at his nephews, he said, “Fortunately the bastard that did these things was himself killed in another car crash. But Richard and I do not want anything like that to happen to you two. . . . I think that I ever you meet someone you want to spend time with, whether it’s just to hang out with, play ball with, go to the movies with, or even  . . . ‘fool around’ with, that you will bring them here and let us meet them, or let your parents meet them.”

The two boys were silent for a few minutes, digesting everything they had been told.

Then Bob the brave, the foolhardy, or maybe Bob the curious, said, “Uncle troy can we ask you and Uncle Richard something? It’s kind of personal.”

“Sure, Bob, I don’t think that after this conversation there will be too many subjects we cannot discuss.”

“Well, Uncle Troy, when you and Uncle Richard were first ‘together,’ as a couple, I mean, did you. . . . did you use those condoms or rubbers? You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”

Bob, when your Uncle I met each other and knew that we wanted to have sex, we discussed this. We decided that, because I had had one or two partners before Richard and I had met, that to be safe, we would use these and practice ‘safe sex,’ until we could be tested and come up clean. It takes six months for HIV to appear, so we wanted to be doubly sure, so we decided that we would be safe for a year and be tested a second time.”

Richard was able to speak once again, “When the second test showed no sign of HIV, we decided not use the condoms, or rubbers, because we were totally committed to each other. We love each other too much to do anything to put each other at risk.”

“Finally,” Troy said, “a couple of House Rules. No running around the house nude. You two studs don’t want to make us old guys jealous.”

“Humpph!” said Richard; “Maybe we would make them jealous!”

“Of course, Richard. That’s really what I wanted to say.”

There were snorts of laughter and giggles from everyone.

“Second rule: If a bedroom door is closed, and it isn’t your bedroom, don’t go in until you knock, and are invited to come in. You show us that respect, and Richard and I will show you the same respect.”

The boys nodded. Both rules made sense and they appreciated the trust and respect their uncles were showing them.

“Third rule,” said Troy, “You are responsible for keeping your own rooms tidy, and that includes washing the sheets when and if they needed it. I know this means we will probably have to get in an extra large supply of soap powder in case you have to do laundry three or four times a week.”

“Another rule,” said Richard, “don’t be afraid to come to us if you have any questions about anything, and I mean anything! Got that?”

“Yeah,” said both boys in unison. Bill added, “If you can talk to use about your own use of condoms, I think we both can trust you to be honest with us about anything.”

“Last rule, I think,” said Troy. “Always give your uncles a hug at least once a day!”

The boys did just that and then the four of them closed up the house and went out for a day’s sightseeing in Washington. They were going to the Washington Monument, the Smithsonian, and the National Zoo.

And a marvelous time was had by all.

* * * *

The traveling

For the next week, Troy and Richard took their nephews on a round of sightseeing trips. They went to the Maryland Historical Society; they went to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum (the boys enjoyed it, but Troy really didn’t want to leave). They went to an Orioles Game at Memorial Stadium,

They went to Washington, D.C., to the Smithsonian, to the Library of Congress, to the Capitol, and to the Tomb of the Unknowns.

In Virginia they went to Mount Vernon and Monticello.

Each night they ate dinner at a different restaurant. They all liked sea-food, and enjoyed crab cakes, crab imperial, and one evening they brought in steamed crabs and enjoyed picking the crabs at a picnic table in the backyard.

On July 26, two days before they were to go up to the cabin they had rented at the lake, they had a phone call from Troy’s brother, Van. He talked to each of the boys; Dotty talked to his sons, and the boys assured their parents that yes, ma’am, they were having a great time, and yes, sir, they were not being any trouble, and they were looking forward to going to this cabin at a lake that Uncle Richard and Uncle Troy had rented.

Then Van spoke to Troy. “Did you get my letter?” he asked.

“Yes, I did, Van, and I did talk to them. They listened to what I had to say, and seemed to take it to heart. They are great guys,” Troy assured his brother.

“That’s swell. Listen, On August 1^st, Dotty and I are flying to Peru. We’ll be in Flight 412 out of LaGuardia.”

“Good, Van. You and Dotty have a good time, and don’t worry about the boys. Richard and I are having a great time, taking them around, eating out, teaching them the fine art of crab picking, and going to lots of movies. You know, we might not want to let you have them back.”

“Tell me that when you’ve had them for three weeks. Well, Bye.”

“Bye, Van.”

THE END.

(But not really; many of the characters are continued in Chapter 1 of “Cousins and Pals;” Chapter 1 will be opening soon at a tickiestories website near you; and don’t forget to catch Richard’s Story, which tells the backstory of Richard and Troy up to this point-WillB).

 
Feedback always welcome:     

Posted: 08/29/08